Miss USA's Outrageous Double Standard

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:46:31 +0000 – By Andrea TantarosRepublican Political Commentator/FOXNews.com Contributor

Apparently, there is a litmus test to be Miss (Liberal) USA these days.

Until the interview round of the contest, Carrie Prejean-- who was representing the State of California was the front-runner. She drew a question by celebrity blogger Mario Armando Lavandeira, Jr. who posts under the pseudonym Perez Hilton, the "Queen of Mean."

The question:

"Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?"

Prejean's response:

"We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite. And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised."

The outcome: The front-runner fell to first runner up and Miss North Carolina USA took the crown.

Let's consider the source: Perez Hilton is an openly gay, unstable and unreasonable left-wing blogger who reports on rumors with great braggadocio -- not even real news -- and often outs closeted gays in the public eye. If he doesn't have respect for other homosexuals or an individual's right to privacy why would he have respect for anything else?

When people are arguing for tolerance and equal rights for gays they undermine their own argument when they resort to intolerant, hateful language that shows a complete disrespect for women. Whether you are talking about gay marriage or the price of coffee at Starbucks, it is absolutely unacceptable to use that language about females to advance your argument.

The double standard is astounding.

I didn't hear the outrage when Joe Biden said that he and Barack Obama are against gay marriage. No incendiary language, no insults, no four letter obscenities.

Why is it acceptable for Obama and Biden to have this opinion but not a conservative female? And where are the women's rights and feminist groups to speak out against this kind of language? Or gay rights groups to denounce this clown because he does nothing to advance their agenda of tolerance? The same place they were when other females who possessed traditional values or beliefs like Sarah Palin exercised their right to free speech and expressed these views: they're nowhere to be found.

I ask: How can a pageant that is supposedly designed to advance women put a judge who clearly has no respect for females on the judging panel? Enter Donald Trump. The Miss Universe organization is a for profit organization owned by Trump. The Donald, who I wouldn't exactly call a champion for women's rights or a moral touchstone, recently, defended the diatribe of Hilton. Congratulations Donald, we knew you were rich, just not ignorant. You can now add apologist for sexism and blatant disrespect for women to your resume after real estate mogul and reality TV producer.

Going forward no participant will stand up for what they believe in fearing punitive action. What message does that send to young girls? You can be fearless and unapologetic as long as you have traditional beliefs? Keep in mind the pageant was televised by NBC, which seeks to propagate and advance a far left agenda. Enough said. Apparently the network has joined the Leftist jihad of intolerance and disrespect toward females, and free speech.

This issue goes beyond beauty contests and reveals a much scarier truth: You cannot voice a dissenting opinion without being assaulted by the progressive left. The left is not interested in debating, only suppressing debate. Destroying your life and career is the sentence for anyone who dissents on these issues. The activists will carry out the sentence with the willing assistance of a compliant media.

If Perez Hilton, The Miss USA organization, Donald Trump, the mainstream media and the Left want to get in battle over free speech and treatment of women, bring it on.

Andrea Tantaros is a conservative commentator and columnist. Her commentary can be found at www.andreatantaros.com.